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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Michael Freedman could well be talking up talented galloper Ninja as a TAB Everest contender if he beats a smart field first-up in Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Kia Ora Stud Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Trainer Michael Freedman (Pic: Bradley Photos).

No local horses have been confirmed by a slot holder for the $20m TAB Everest so far this year, defending champ Ka Ying Rising is intending to make the trip back from Hong Kong, so there are plenty of slot holders out there to impress.

And with just eight starts under his belt, for four wins including a Group 2, the trainer said there’s every reason to think there’s more to come.

Three of the past six Missile winners, Alizee, Eduardo and I Am Me, have found their way into an Everest and Freedman said there’s no telling where the lightly raced gelding may end up this spring.

“There’s lots of options on the table for him, it depends on how he comes back,’’ Freedman said.

“I wouldn’t rule out setting him for an Everest if his form warrants it.

“He’ll be kept to 1200m and 1400m this campaign but there’s obviously also the Golden Eagle, being a four-year-old, to have a look at.”

Ninja, $3.90 with TAB on Thursday and $15 in the TAB Everest pre-noms market, hasn’t raced since he ran fifth in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) back in March and Freedman said the longer break has been of benefit.

Prior to that race he’d won the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m), beating Napoleonic, fresh from his Queensland summer campaign where you could argue he should have been unbeaten.

“He was very stiff first-up over 1200m last campaign up in Brisbane and despite the fact he’s raced and won over 1400m his form and everything would suggest he’s just as effective over a shorter course,’’ Freedman said.

“He seems in good order, I’ve been happy with both of his trials.

“He had a nice long spell after running in the Randwick Guineas, he had his spell up in Queensland and four or five weeks of pre-training up there in the warmer weather and I think it’s done him good.

“I think mentally he’s a lot more mature than what he was six or 12 months ago. The campaign in Queensland had a lot to do with that so hopefully all going well the best is still ahead of him.”

Freedman said he’ll leave it to jockey Tommy Berry to work out how to navigate Ninja from barrier six in the eight horse field.

“It’s only a relatively small field, hopefully it’s run at a reasonably decent tempo and not just a sit and sprint affair,’’ he said.

Godolphin mare Mareth collected a couple of Listed placings last preparation and Freedman has his eye on another stakes race for her after the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1200m).

The four-year-old was stakes placed in the Gosford Guineas and last start in the South Pacific Classic and Freedman said using Will Stanley’s 3kg claim will help her first-up with an eye on running in the Mona Lisa Stakes second-up.

“She was very consistent last time in, a good genuine sort of mare and hopefully she can poke around the fringes a little bit,’’ he said.

“She’s not an overly big mare so with the weight I thought it was probably better to get a bit off her.”

A decision on where Magenta Skies runs on Saturday is pending with Freedman accepting for both the Precise Air Handicap (1400m) at Randwick and the Shore Goggles Handicap (1400m) at Kembla Grange.

The mare missed the autumn after she pulled up with a problem out of the Group 1 Flight Stakes at just her third start and Freedman expects her to run well at whichever venue she competes, with improvement to come.

Ninja wins a Randwick trial on July 31

“She pulled up after (the Flight) with a bit of a knee issue so we had to get that tidied up and she missed all the autumn,’’ he said.

“She’s had a nice, steady build up. Given her benchmark rating she’s still eligible for a 64 but she’s in good order.

“I think she’s a mare of good Saturday ability, she’s been off the scene quite a while and it’s a matter of whether we take a softer option.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting